Introduction
August Muench, not to be confused with his son, August E. Muench, ran several bars and hotels in Camden and Stockton (present-day East Camden) in the 1880s and early 1890s before relocating to Riverside, New Jersey, where he operated a hotel there for many years.
August Muench was born in Baden, in what is now Germany, around 1845. He was married and living in Philadelphia by 1870 when son August E. Muench was born. By 1880 he was in business for himself as a tavern-keeper, with his home and business at 709 North 3rd Street in Philadelphia. Living with him at that time were his wife Annie, children August E., 10; John, 5; and Annie, 2. Another son, named Albert, came in the early 1880s.
August Muench was in Camden by the time the 1886 City Directory was compiled. He was the owner of the Liberty Park Hotel, a large establishment on the Haddonfield Turnpike (present day Haddon Avenue) just south of Kaighn Avenue.
August Muench remained involved with the Liberty Park Hotel into the first part of 1888. He then took on a bar at 601 Kaighn Avenue, where he remained through early 1891. His son, August E. appears in the city directories for the first time in 1890, living with his father and working as a plumber. The 1890–1891 Directory states that August Muench was selling cigars, and not liquor, when the directory was compiled. Either Adolph Muench or his son was involved with a Charles J. Keating in a business, the Standard Blind Awning Co at 1115 Federal Street was in Camden by the time the 1886 City Directory was published.
The 1891–1892 Directory shows that August Muench and his son had both left South Camden and moved to what was then Stockton, present-day East Camden. August Muench was operating a lager beer saloon on Federal Street near 19th Street, while his son had set up a plumbing business known as A.E. Muench & Company at the corner of 20th & Federal Streets. Later city directories reveal this address to be 1984–1986 Federal Street. The younger Muench would remain on Federal Street until at least 1904.
By 1893 August Muench had relocated again, to Riverside, in Burlington County, New Jersey, where he opened up yet another hotel. Tragedy struck in June of 1894 when son Albert died on June 19th, in Stockton, probably at or near his older brother’s home.
The 1900 Census shows that August Muench had remarried. He was living in Riverside with new wife Christine, children William, 10; Christina, 8; and Frederick 6. He continued in the bar business through at least 1909. During the decade of the 1900s, he appeared in the Trenton Times on at least four occasions.
- Trenton Times, June 26, 1903 – August Muench awards a contract to George Arndt to build a new hotel.
- Trenton Times, January 29, 1904 – Mentions him in connection with a new hotel at Riverside.
- Trenton Times, October 4, 1906 – August Muench, August Stecher, and William Mathias visited Bridgeton, New Jersey.
- Trenton Times, May 4, 1909 – August Muench’s liquor license was renewed.
The 1920 Census indicates August Muench had retired. “Augustin” and Christine Muench are living with their daughter and her husband William Mueller. William Mueller is working at the watch factory in Riverside, while Christine works at a hosiery mill, probably the one in Palmyra. By the time the 1930 Census was taken August Muench had passed away. His widow was still living with their daughter. The younger Christine had remarried to Carroll Getzinger. The couple then lived at 2137 45th Street in Pennsauken, New Jersey.
Portrait
August Muench Sr.
Trolley Exchange Hotel
709 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia — mid-1880s
Inside August Muench’s Trolley Exchange Hotel
Outside August Muench’s Trolley Exchange Hotel
Remember When?
Camden Courier-Post —
Liberty Park Mansion was located at Haddon and Atlantic aves. August Muench, owner, advertised a concert and dance every day. Dance hall was in building at the right. Poolroom sign is above entrance to tavern. The photograph, taken about 1888, was submitted by Mrs. William Leibfried, of 1431 Bradley ave.
Liberty Park Mansion, enlarged photograph
East End Hotel
Riverside, New Jersey
August Muench’s East End Hotel, Riverside, New Jersey
To Arrest Drink Sellers
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Stockton Township Law and Order Men Again on the War-path.
The Stockton Township Law and Order Society, which made war last season on a number of saloon-keepers for selling on Sunday, and who succeeded in having them indicted, is again on the war-path.
Their agents have been quietly at work, and as a result warrants were sworn out last night before Justice Miles for the arrest of the following saloon-keepers, charged with selling liquor on Sunday: Penrose Murphy, Thomas Tracy, John Hoosey, Anna M. Stierger, C. L. Dietz, John Rapp, M. Graetz, P. J. Murphy, Henry Andrews, Jacob Bendinger, Aug. Muench, H. G. Vennell, Louis Everly, Dorothy Stoeple and Ruport Stoeple.
Stockton News
Philadelphia Inquirer —
—While at work in the State street woolen mills, in Camden, yesterday, Robert Selah, of Stockton, had his right hand crushed in the machinery. He will lose four fingers.
—While driving on the river road yesterday, John Seigfried, of Riverside, fell underneath a wagon and had a leg broken and was otherwise badly injured. He was removed to his home.
—One thousand dollars was realized from the fair of the Citizens’ Fire Company, which closed last night. Chief Elfreth, of the Camden Fire Department, won a gold badge in a contest with Chief Welsh, of the Stockton department.
—After debating the license question until 10 o’clock last night, the following licenses were granted by the Town Council of Stockton. First ward, John G. Schramm, George Doerfuss, Frederick Feil, John Hoosey, Moritz Gratz, Charles Voigt, Jacob Walz, Joseph Diehm, C. L. Dietz and Frank Powell; Second ward, Thomas O’Hara, Charles Kleemann, Jacob Schiller, Thomas Tracey, S. H. Long, John J. Trost, Mrs. Brown, Jacob Bendinger, William Denneller, August Muench, Gottlieb Elsener, John Costello; Third ward, Mrs. Rugart, Harry G. Vennell and Charles Mangold. Those refused are Louis Everly and William Cronmiller, both of the First ward. The resignation of Policeman Grantz was accepted, to take effect May 1.
Stockton Liquor Licenses
Philadelphia Inquirer —
A Big Batch Granted and Remonstrances Turned Down.
At a meeting of Stockton’s Town Council last night the following retail liquor licenses were granted: Frederick Feil, John Hoosey, Louis Everly, Jacob Walz, Charles Voigt, John G. Schramm, William Cronmiller, Moritz Gratz, George Doerfuss, Joseph R. Diehm, C. L. Dietz, Thomas O’Hara, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleemann, Thomas Tracy, G. B. Fox, Dora Andrews, George W. Spicks, Catharine Brown, William Deimeller, Jacob Bendinger, August Munich, John Costello, John J. Trost, G. Eisener, Fred Wolfinger, Mrs. Rugart, H. G. Vennell, Andrew Zane. J. Grunert was granted a wholesale license. The applications of Eseker Meeks and B. L. Buenzle were refused.
Eleven remonstrances had been filed by the Reform Association against saloon-keepers, but President Dudley said they had not been legally signed.
Stockton’s Town Council
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Number of Liquor Licenses Were Granted Last Night.
At a meeting of Stockton’s Town Council last night, the annual report of the town treasurer showed a balance on hand of $15,522.83. An ordinance was passed for the issuance of $10,000 bonds for general school improvements.
The following liquor licenses were granted: First ward, John G. Schramm, Walter W. Sellard, Monty Gratz, John Hoosey, George Doerfuss, Louis Everly, Joseph Diehm, C. L. Dietz, Jacob Walz, B. L. Buenzle, Captain Morris Hall.
Second ward, Gottlieb Jung, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleemann, Isaac Adams, George W. Spicks, Mrs. Andrews, Frederic Wolfinger, John J. Trost, William Denneller, Jacob Bendinger, August Muench, John Costello, Gotthard Elsner.
Third ward, Harry G. Vennell, Charles L. Zoeller, John Gallagher.
The application of Thomas Tracy and Frederick Lechleimer were refused, and the application of Mrs. Sell was laid over.
Stockton Liquor Licenses
Philadelphia Inquirer —
Town Council Grants a Number of Applications.
At a meeting of Stockton Town Council last night the following retail liquor licenses were granted: John Hoosey, Geo. Doerfuss, Dorothy Feil, John G. Schramm, Louis Everly, B. L. Buenzle, Jacob Bauck, Valentine Doerr, B. J. Lyons, Thomas Tracey, Isaac H. Adams, George W. Sterling, Charles Kleeman, William Demuller, Gotthard Eisner, Jacob Bendinger, George W. Spicks, August Muench, John Costello, Dora Andrews, John Hafner, Charles T. Zoller, John J. Gallagher, Harry G. Vennel, Charles Mangold, Merritt Hall, John J. Trost, Frederick Wolfinger, Jacob Walz. C. L. Dietz and Frank Grunert were granted wholesale licenses.
Stockton Council Acts
Philadelphia Inquirer —
At a meeting of Stockton’s Town Council, last night, Town Attorney Jonas S. Miller announced that he had been granted a writ of certiorari in the afternoon from Supreme Court Justice Garrison, carrying the annexation question to the Supreme Court. It was decided to notify the Camden authorities to return all the furniture taken by the Camden police. The following retail liquor licenses were granted: John Hoosey, Front street and Cooper avenue; Oscar Scherer, Second street and Cooper avenue; Jacob Bauck, Cooper avenue and Cambridge street; John Costello, Town Hall Hotel; Julius Stienger, Nineteenth and Federal streets; Jacob Bendinger, Twenty-fourth and Federal streets; Merritt Hall, Pavonia Park; Charles Kleeman, Stockton Park; M. G. Vennell, Cooper and Penn avenues; William Denneller, Federal, below Twenty-fourth street; C. F. Zoller, Cooper and Pleasant streets; John J. Gallagher, Twenty-eighth and Mitchel streets; William Walz, Union, above Fourth street; August Muench, Twenty-fifth and Federal streets; Pauline Everly, Second and Main streets. C. L. Dietz was granted a wholesale license and the wholesale license of Frank Grunert was laid over. The retail license of George Doerfuss, of Fourth and Main streets, was laid over.
The Camden city officials claim that the Stockton Town Council has no legal existence and if saloonkeepers sell under the town licenses they will be arrested.